Valve-spring lifter



C. E. SMITH l-May l1 1926. I 1,583,862

VALVE SPRING LIFTER Filed Feb. 18, 1925 gwwmtoi Patented May 11, 1.2255.

UNITED STATES 1,583,862 PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E. SMITHQOF WESLEYVILLE, I ENNSYLVAHIA.

"VALVE-SPRING LIFTER.

2 Application filed. February ing one of comparative simplicity and durability which is highly practical in operation,

and such in construction as to render it adaptable for use in connection with various sizes of cylinder blocks.

The structural details, their relative arrangement, and the features and advantages derived from the particular association made will become apparent from the following de- I scription and drawing. I

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a valve spring lifting tool constructed in accordance with the present invention, a portion of the same being seen in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

3 is a detail view on a slightly enlarged scale showing a particular constructional feature of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference character 1 designates a yoke or substantially U-shaped frame, the lower horizontal arm of which has its free end fashioned to provide a fork 2.- the prongs of which are adapted to straddle the valve stem in the customary manner. The upper arm of the yoke is provided at its free end with diverging portions 3 and 4-. The upper portion 3 is provided with spaced arms 5 between which a pivoted looking pawl 6 is mounted, the pawl serving in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Also, extending from the lower portion 4 are spaced members 7 and 8, the member 7 being on the remote side in Fig.1 and being connected with the corresponding arm 5 through the medium of a web 9. The member 8 is of peculiar outline as shown in Fig. 1 and takes a curve outwardly and joins 1vovith the free end of the corresponding mem- As seen in Fig. 2, this member 8 somewhat U-shaped in top plan and the end porti ns thereof ar directed laterally, being 18, 1925. Serial No. 10,013.

connected to the portion 4 in one instance and to the outer end of the arm 5 at the top in the other instance. Connected to the bight of this U shaped member'8 and to the web 9 is a cross pin 10 seen more plainly in Fig. 3. This pin constitutes a journal upon which a pinion 11 is mounted for rotation. I would direct attention to the fact that the pinion is not only rotatable in an idle manner upon the pin 10, but it is slidable. It willalso be noted from Fig. 3 that the pinion is provided at circumferentially spaced points with transverse holes 12 constituting sockets. Also as seenhere, the offset end 13 of an operating lever 14: is disposed against one face of the pinion, this lever being also rotatable and slidable upon the pm. I I

Interposed between the laterally directed end 13 and the bight portion of the member 8 is a coiled spring 15. Carried by the offset end 13 are inwardly extending studs 16 which are adapted to be selectively seated in diametrically opposite one of the sockets 12 in the pinion.

I would direct attention here to the fact that the spaced arms 5 at the top and the space-d members 7 and 8 at the bottom are connected with the diverging portions 3 and 4k in. a manner to permit them to serve as guides for a vertically movable rack bar '1'? W which is disposed in substantial vertical alinementwith the aforesaid valve stem engaging fork 2. 7

In operation the lower end of the toothed rack bar, the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of the pinion 11, is rested upon the cylinder head in a well known manner while the prongs of the fork 2 straddle the stem of the valve stem beneath the lower end of the valve spring. Now, by grasping the handle 14 and moving it downwardly, the entire yoke 1 including the fork 2 is raised, serving to lift the valve spring in an obviousmanner.

Upward movement of the'lever 14- serves to rotate the pinion in an opposite direction and to'lift the rack bar 17 to permit disengagement of the device. WVhile the rack bar is moving downwardly for the purpose of lifting the valve spring, the dog or pawl 6 permits unhampered rotation of the pinion and locks the same against retrograde move ment. 1

Hence, as the device is operated, it auto .matically looks so that when the spring is I T-head design.

iaised sufficiently, the operator s hands are free for other work.

Having considered the construction shown in the drawings and the description of claiming it, it is obvious that a device of this kind is advantageous in the following respects. First, one can remove a valve of nearly all makes of motors without removing intake or exhaust, manifolds, thus result ing in a great saving of time and labor. Second, the device maybe quicklyand easily adjusted to accommodate various types of motors including the socalled L-head and Third, the device is substantially automatic in operation in that as the lever is swung downwardly for lifting the spring, the pinion is looked under the action of the gravity operated dog. leverage all'orded by the rack and pinion construction makes necessary but little effort onthe part oft-he operator.

Not only this, due to the particular construction clearly.represented in Fig. 3, the offset end 13 of the lever 14 can be slipped over on the pin 10 against the action of the spring 15 to permit the point of connection on the lever with the pinion to be changed to allow for furtherrotation of the pinion in a predetermined direction without interference from the lever.

In other words, if the connection were atlixed, it will be seen that the downward movement for instance of the lever will be limited by striking the member 8. By the construction shown, however, the lever can be disconnected from the pinion and lifted upwardly and the studs 16 entered in diflerent holes 12 to permit further rotation of Further, the

neeaeea engage the mesh and to permit bodily shiftmg of the rack bar.

These and other advantages and features of the invention have doubtless been made apparent by the foregoing description and drawings. For this reason, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Althoughthe preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor-changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be. resorted 'to .i'tdesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is I A valve spring lifter comprising a yoke, means carried by one arm of the yoke for Yeooperation with a valve spring, means carried by the other arm forbodily lifting said yoke with respect to a motor, said means comprising a toothed rack bar and a pinion ;having its teeth in mesh with the teethoi said rack bar. said pinion being rotatably mounted and provided with a circular series of spaced holes, and a laterally-movable operating lever forrotating, said pinion saidflever being provided with taper studs removably disposed in said holes, and spring means hacking said lever and yieldingly holding the same to its work withthe taper studs in the sockets of the pinion.

In testimony whereof Latfix my signature.

CLARENCE snrrn. 

